Advancement

Grades

Technical achievement in kendo is measured by advancement in grade, rank or level. The kyū (級) and dan (段) grading system, created in 1883, is used to indicate one's proficiency in kendo. The dan levels are from first-dan (初段 sho-dan) to tenth-dan (十段 jū-dan). There are usually six grades below first-dan, known as kyu. The kyu numbering is in reverse order, with first kyu (一級 ikkyū) being the grade immediately below first dan, and sixth kyu (六級 rokkyū) being the lowest grade. There are no visible differences in dress between kendo grades; those below dan-level may dress the same as those above dan-level.

Eighth-dan (八段 hachi-dan) is the highest dan grade attainable through a test of physical kendo skills. In the AJKF the grades of ninth-dan (九段 kyū-dan) and tenth dan (十段 (jū-dan)) are no longer awarded, but ninth-dan kendōka are still active in Japanese kendo. International Kendo Federation (FIK) grading rules allow national kendo organisations to establish a special committee to consider the award of those grades. Only five now-deceased kendoka were ever admitted to the rank of 10th-dan following the establishment in 1952 of the All Japan Kendo Federation. The five kendoka, all of whom had been students of Naitō Takaharu at the Budo Senmon Gakko, were:

• Ogawa Kinnosuke 小川 金之助 (1884-1962)- awarded 1957
• Moriji Mochida (aka Mochida Moriji) 持田 盛二 (1885-1974)- awarded 1957
• Nakano Sousuke 中野 宗助 (1885-1963)- awarded 1957
• Saimura Gorou 斎村 五郎 (1887-1969)- awarded 1957
• Ooasa Yuuji 大麻 勇次 (1887-1974)- awarded 1962

All candidates for examination face a panel of examiners. A larger, more qualified panel is usually assembled to assess the higher dan grades. Kendo examinations typically consist of jitsugi, a demonstration of the skill of the applicants, Nihon Kendo Kata and a written exam. The eighth-dan kendo exam is extremely difficult, with a reported pass rate of less than 1 percent.

• Outline
  

  SPORTS WORLD

  Kendo

  Is a modern Japanese martial art, which descended from swordsmanship (kenjutsu) and uses bamboo swords (shinai) and protective armour (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and many other nations across the world. Kendo is an activity that combines martial arts practices and values with strenuous sport-like physical activity.

  History: Swordsmen in Japan established schools of kenjutsu (the ancestor of kendo), which continued for centuries and which form the basis of kendo practice today. The formal kendo exercises known as kata were developed several centuries ago as kenjutsu practice for warriors.

  Concept and Purpose: Kendo is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana.

  Equipment and Clothing: Kendo is practiced wearing a traditional Japanese style of clothing, protective armour (防具 bōgu) and using one or, less commonly, two shinai (竹刀 shinai).

  Practice Session: Kiri-kaeshi (切り返し) Striking the left and right men target points in succession, practicing centering, distance, and correct technique, while building spirit and stamina.

  Techniques: First practicing slowly and then as familiarity and confidence builds, the kendoka and motodachi increase the speed to match competition level.

  Rules: A scorable point (有効打突 yūkō-datotsu) in a kendo competition (tai-kai) is defined as an accurate strike or thrust made onto a datotsu-bui of the opponent's kendo-gu with the shinai making contact at its datotsu-bu, the competitor displaying high spirits, correct posture and followed by zanshin.

  Advancement: Technical achievement in kendo is measured by advancement in grade, rank or level. The kyū (級) and dan (段) grading system, created in 1883, is used to indicate one's proficiency in kendo.

  Kata: Kata, are fixed patterns that teach kendoka the basic elements of swordsmanship. The kata include fundamental techniques of attacking and counter-attacking, and have useful practical application in general kendo.

RESOURCES
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kendo", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.